Animal Use & Drug Guidelines

Experiment Guidelines for the Prevention, Assessment and Relief of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals

These guidelines are used by IACUC, RAR and by regulatory agencies to determine if an animal is experiencing pain or distress. A key aspect of the animal welfare regulations is that pain and distress be minimized whenever possible.

View Guidelines

Drug Use & Dosages

RAR Drug Recommendations

Approved drug doses by therapeutic class & A - Z

RAR Acetaminophen Update

Alternatives to acetaminophen in rats and mice

NIH Drug Formulary (pdf)

For anesthesia & analgesia drugs by species.

Animal Use Guidelines & Policies

Expired IACUC Protocol Animal Maintenance

Policy followed by IACUC and RAR for animals on IACUC protocols that expire.

IACUC Guidelines for Using Avertin® (2,2,2 Tribromoethanol)

Policy overview

Anesthetics, Analgesics and Tranquilizers in Lab Animals

Drug Selection, Induction, Support & Monitoring

Blood Collection

Restraint Procedures, Draws - Single, Multiple, Terminal, Common sites

Cage Space Guidelines

Includes Mice breeding and Agricultural Animals

Euthanasia

Criteria, Approved methods, Carbon dioxide chamber

Housing and Husbandry for Lab Animals

Room & Cage Conditions, Food & Water

Institutional Biosafety Committee

Recombinant DNA and Artificial Gene Transfer Form, Infectious Agent Usage Form, Biological Toxin Usage Form

Immunization

Adjuvants, Route of Administration

Restraint and Handling

By Species, Restraint devices

Surgery

Facilities, Use of Expired Materials, Post-procedural Care, Antibiotic Guidelines

Tail Snipping

For Rodents less than 50 grams

Transporting Animal

University of Minnesota Policy for within and between buildings

Use of Fishes

From the American Fisheries Society, American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists , and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

Use of Live Amphibians & Reptiles

From the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, The Herpetologists' League, and Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

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Points of Emphasis and Tip Sheets

 

Deficiencies Commonly Found During Semiannual Facilities Inspections

 

Animal Transport

 

Calibration of Anesthetic Machine Vaporizers

 

Certifying a Biological Safety Cabinet

Use of Expired Drugs or Materials

General Safety Concerns

Maintenance of Guillotines Used for Euthanasia Decapitation

Indentification of Animals Use in Research or Teaching Activities

Needle Re-Use

Use of Non-Pharmaceutical-Grade Compounds in Research

Oversight of Investigator Managed Holding Facilities

Personal Protective Equipment

Sharps Injury Prevention

Expired Protocols

Anesthesia, Surgery, and Post-Operative Records

Keeping Research Areas Secure

Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Post Surgical Monitoring

• Small Animal Post-Operative Record
• Small Animal Procedure Form
• Small Animal Procedure Record

Agricultural Animal Guidelines

Blood Collection and Intravenous Techniques with Pigs

From the Department of Biochemistry, Physiology and Nutrition, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, and Norwegian Independent Meat Association

Cage Space Guidelines

For commonly used farm animals

Euthanasia

Approved Methods for agricultural animals

Feeding Hay

Procedures included

Restraint and Handling

Including goats, sheep, calves, and swine

For more agricultural procedures, the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching is for sale through the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS).

It includes agricultural animal health care, physical plant guidelines and husbandry guidelines for:

• Beef Cattle
• Dairy Cattle
• Horses
• Poultry
• Sheep and Goats
• Swine
• Veal calves